Mummies Of The World Exhibition Makes Portland Debut At OMSI
Pacific Northwest Premiere of Largest Collection of Mummies Ever Assembled Begins June 14, 2013 for Limited Engagement

PORTLAND, Ore., March 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The nationally recognized Mummies of the World exhibition will make its Pacific Northwest debut at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI), a scientific, educational, and cultural resource center dedicated to improving the public's understanding of science and technology, on Friday, June 14, 2013. The presentation in Portland will mark the eighth stop of the exhibition's exclusive tour of the United States. This astonishing collection of mummies and related artifacts includes a 6,420-year-old child mummy from Peru ("Detmold Child") dating 3,000 years before King Tut. The exhibition has been declared as "Magical and mythical" by the New York Times presenting a never-before seen collection of rare mummies from across the world -- including South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Egypt -- that spans eons of time and transcends history.

With its astounding collection of 150 specimens and objects, Mummies of the World is the largest exhibition of real human and animal mummies and related artifacts ever assembled. Through modern science and engaging interactive and multi-media exhibits, the exhibition reveals how the scientific study of mummies provides a window into the lives of ancient people, offering unprecedented insights into past cultures and civilizations. It also demonstrates that mummification – both through natural processes and intentional practices – has taken place all over the globe, from the hot desert sands of South America to remote European bogs.

"OMSI is committed to bringing unique educational experiences like Mummies of the World to the people of the Pacific Northwest," said Nancy Stueber, president of OMSI. "Thanks to modern tools from biology and chemistry, medical imaging, DNA science and even 3D animation, young people and adults will gain a deeper understanding of people, cultures and environments of the past."

In addition to the Detmold Child, the rare and ancient objects presented in Mummies of the World include the Vac Mummies, a mummified family from Hungary believed to have died from tuberculosis; the Baron von Holz, a German nobleman found tucked away in the family crypt of a 14th century castle wearing his best leather boots; an ancient Peruvian woman naturally mummified in the warm desert air, with mysterious tattoos on her face and chest, and long black hair intact; and a howler monkey from Argentina, with its fierce expression and adorned with a feather skirt and headdress.

"We are excited to bring Mummies of the World to Portland," said Marc Corwin, president of American Exhibitions, Inc. "Most people think mummies come from Egypt and are wrapped, but mummies come from all over the world. The exhibition is changing centuries-old perceptions about what the general public thinks about mummies and providing insight into the lives and cultures of these ancient people. Inside every mummy is a story waiting to be told, and Mummies of the World is here to tell those stories."

The concept for the exhibition began with the rediscovery of 21 specimens within the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums of Mannheim, Germany in 2004. A consortium of mummy researchers, known as the German Mummy Project, used DNA analysis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), radiocarbon dating and mass spectrometry to learn more, and engaged the cooperation of 21 world-renowned museums, organizations and collections in seven countries to make this innovative exhibition possible.

Mummies of the World will be on display at OMSI from June 14, 2013 through September 8, 2013. For more information, please visit www.omsi.edu or mummiesoftheworld.com.